Abelia plant named ‘Minabcris01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Abelia  plant named ‘Minabcris01’ is disclosed, characterized by large, abundant, pendulous white flowers, and green foliage with red edges. Plants have vigorous, rounded habits. The new variety is an  Abelia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Abelia x grandiflora.

Variety denomination: ‘MINABCRIS01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Abelia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor to develop new Abelia with large white flowers. The seed parent is an unpatented, internal Abelia x grandiflora seedling #11623. The pollen parent is the unpatented variety Abelia x grandiflora ‘Sherwood’. The crossing resulting in the new variety was made at a nursery in La Menitre, France in September 2010.

The new cultivar was found and selected as an interesting new variety in September 2012, at the same nursery in La Menitre, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ was first performed in September 2012 in La Menitre, France, by softwood cuttings. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations. Date of first sale is Mar. 1, 2022, in the France. This sale was made directly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed invention directly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all public disclosures made between Mar. 1, 2022, and the filing of this application fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Minabcris01’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Minabcris01’ as a new and distinct Abelia cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, pendulous white flowers.     -   2. Rounded growth habit.     -   3. Heavy flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ are similar to plants of the seed parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of the new variety is slightly smaller than         flower size of the seed parent.     -   2. Flower color of the new variety is white, while the flower         color of the seed parent is lavender.     -   3. Leaves of the new variety are longer than leaves of the seed         parent.     -   4. Leaf color of the new variety is green with a red edge, while         leaf color of the seed parent is darker green.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent variety in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Flower size of the new variety is larger than flower size of         the pollen parent.     -   2. Flowers of the new variety are hanging, while flowers of the         pollen parent are erect.     -   3. Stamen color of the new variety is white, while stamen color         of the seed parent is lavender.     -   4. Growth habit of the new variety is rounded, while growth         habit of the pollen parent is more vigorous.     -   5. Leaves of the new variety are matte, while leaves of the         pollen parent are glossy.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Minabcris01’ can be compared to the variety Abelia ‘Mincautri’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 33,457. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, ‘Minabcris01’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has pendulous flowers; this comparator has         outwardly facing flowers.     -   2. The new variety has solid colored foliage; this comparator         has variegated foliate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a plant of ‘Minabcris01’ during the summer grown outdoors, at approximately 1.5 years old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Minabcris01’.

FIG. 3 illustrates flowering stem coloration at 3 different stages. The stem on the far right is the youngest, the stem in the center is nearly mature and the stem on the far right in the image is the most mature.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Minabcris01’ plants grown in a poly-greenhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Measurements were taken during September 2022. The plants were about 2 to 3 years old in 3-gallon containers. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and 5° C. to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

Botanical classification: Abelia x grandiflora ‘Minabcris01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: 1 to 2 months at approximately 18° C. to     27° C. in the summer. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: About 40 days at approximately     18° C. to 27° C. -   Root description: Moderately dense, freely branching, thin, fibrous,     and fleshy. White to tan in color, not accurately measured by the     color chart.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial flowering shrub. -   Age of plant described: 2 to 3 years old. -   Growth habit: Upwards and outwards. -   Pot size of plant described: 3-gallon pot. -   Overall plant shape: Rounded, mounded. -   Height: 35 cm. -   Plant spread: 60 cm. -   Plant vigor: Quite vigorous. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Basal branching, some pinching required     to encourage a rounded habit. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 45 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches:     -   -   Main branch.—7 mm.         -   Branchlets.—2 mm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: 5 to 10 main basal branches with 5 to     10 branches emerging from each. -   Stem:     -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem strength.—New Growth: Durable and somewhat flexible.             Old Growth: Strong.         -   Color.—New Growth: Upper Surface: RHS Greyed-Red 181A. Under             Surface: RHS Green 139D. Old Growth: Near RHS Grey-Brown             199D.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Angle of attachment.—45 to 60° from parallel. -   Internode length: Average 3 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Average length.—3 cm.         -   Average width.—1 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute/acuminate.         -   Base.—Oblique.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glossy, but textured with fine             coarse hairs.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent along midline             only, otherwise glabrous.         -   Color.—Young Foliage Upper Side: RHS Greyed-Orange 175A to             Greyed-Red 178B. Young Foliage Under Side: RHS Greyed-Orange             174B with Yellow-Green 146C. Mature Foliage Upper Side: RHS             Green 137A. Mature Foliage Under Side: RHS Yellow-Green             146C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color Upper Side: RHS             Yellow-Green 146C. Color Under Side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: 1.5 mm. Diameter: 1 mm. Petiole             Color Upper Side: RHS Yellow-Green 146C, with Greyed-Red             178B along margin. Petiole Color Lower Side: RHS             Yellow-Green 146C. Petiole Texture: Slightly pubescent             abaxially.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: June through September. -   Flower arrangement: Terminally flowering with groups of 2-4     (commonly 4) salverform flowers emerging from axillary leaf nodes.     Pendulous flowers. -   Flower form: Salverform. -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem: About 10 per branchlet. -   Quantity of buds per lateral stem: About 10 per branchlet. -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant: Several hundred on average. -   Flower:     -   -   Depth.—2 cm.         -   Diameter.—2 cm.         -   Shape.—Single whorl with 5 recurved petals.         -   Aspect.—Outwards.         -   Throat diameter.—7 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—1.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—2 mm.         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Mild, moderately sweet and perfumy. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Length.—1.25 cm.         -   Diameter.—5 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 150D. -   Petal:     -   -   Appearance.—Smooth and soft.         -   Arrangement.—Stellate.         -   Number.—5.         -   Petal shape.—Elliptic to oblong.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Obtuse.         -   Length from throat.—7.5 mm.         -   Width.—5 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Glabrous and silky. Lower: Glabrous and             silky.         -   Throat texture.—Glabrous, silky.         -   Tube texture.—Glabrous, silky.         -   Color.—When Opening: Inner Surface: RHS White NN155B. Outer             Surface: RHS White NN155B. Fully Opened: Upper Surface: RHS             White NN155B. Lower Surface: RHS White NN155B. Flower Tube             Color: RHS White NN155B. Flower Throat Color: RHS White             NN155B. Vein Color: Upper Surface: RHS White NN155B. Lower             Surface: RHS White NN155B. Vein Color, Tube: RHS White             NN155B. -   Sepal:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorl.         -   Number.—2 to 3.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to lanceolate.         -   Tip.—Acute, sometimes notched.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Width.—4 mm.         -   Texture, upper.—Glabrous.         -   Texture, lower.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Green 137A, tinted Greyed-Orange             174B-C, becoming Greyed-Red 176B to 178B after flower is             shed. Lower Surface: RHS Green 137A, tinted Greyed-Orange             174B-C, becoming Greyed-Red 176B to 178B after flower is             shed.         -   Calyx shape.—Collar-like. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Green 137A, tinted Greyed-Orange 174B-C, becoming             Greyed-Red 176B to 178B after flower is shed.         -   Orientation.—45°.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Texture.—Very slightly pubescent. -   Pedicel: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Filament length.—1 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS White 155B. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—2 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Yellow 162D.         -   Pollen color.—RHS Greyed-Yellow 162D.         -   Pollen amount.—Sparse to moderate. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 9 mm. Color: RHS White 155B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Rounded/globose. Color: RHS White 155B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Abelia grandiflora have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant from −31° C. to 38° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Abelia plant named ‘Minabcris01’ as herein illustrated and described. 